Kath Moore, Managing Director of Women into Construction, inspired attendees to "normalise the position of women” in industry.
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) has teamed up with Transport for London (TfL) to encourage women into construction and engineering careers.
The partnership between the College and TfL has been working with not-for-profit organisation Women into Construction to run a pre-employment training programme to recruit women into these industries.
The four-week Women Into Construction, Transportation and Infrastructure programme provides employability skills, the chance to gain a CSCS card to work on building sites and a two-week work placement.
An induction to the programme was held at CONEL on 10 January and gave attendees the chance to find out more about what is involved and hear from some of TfL’s main contractors and suppliers, including Arriva, Bombardier, Dragados and Telent.
Elle Jamison, 39, who attended the event, said: “I’ve been out of work for some time and I thought I would give this a try and see where my skills might fit and maybe learn something new.
“A few of my friends who work in engineering. I’ve always had a bit of a boyish personality and don’t mind getting my hands dirty. The way it was presented to me today, I think this could be a good career for me.”
Aubery Henry, Assistant Supplier Skills Manager at TfL, left, and Karen Page, from Customer Relations at Arriva, centre, were among the speakers at the Women Into Construction, Transportation and Infrastructure event.
Kath Moore, Managing Director of Women into Construction, who taught and studied at the College, inspired attendees at the induction to “normalise the position of women” in industry.
She said: “Fifty years ago you would not have seen a female doctor and 15 years ago there were far fewer female lawyers, but seeing women in these roles is now completely accepted.
“Today is an instrumental part in doing that by changing the mindset of employers to see the value women can bring to their organisation and offering opportunities to them.”
Another former student of the College, Michael Eason, who is now an electrical manager at global construction firm Laing O’Rourke, also spoke at the event.
He told how one highly skilled woman would have “slipped through the cracks” had he not been introduced by Women into Construction.
Aubery Henry, Assistant Supplier Skills Manager at TfL, said: “We know there is a shortfall of women in these industries, so we launched this programme last year to encourage them to meet employers, see what opportunities are available and apply for jobs.
“These are extremely rewarding careers for women where they can earn gain new skills, earn a lot of money and fulfil their work ambitions, while also benefiting from the joy of working in these roles as men have done for years.”